Flowers of the Arctic Regions.

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 35

Flowers of the Arctic Regions.

The polar flowers seldom have any perfume, and the few that exhibit this delightful quality, however feeble, are probably from that cla^s that have crept over the cold border marked by the Arctic circle j- or, in short, none of the 50 mentioned — Eskimo flowers, we might call them in a popular way — have any appreciable, odour. The colour of these boreal blossoms is generally of the cold tints, as if in harmony with the chilly surroundings, instead of the warm hues that would break in upon the desolation with double effect by sheer contrast where so few cheering sights are to be seen. White and light yellow predominate, and these colours seem associated with frosts and cold weather, for it appears that those flowers we call 11 everlastings," and which are the longest ( tb defy the nippings of the coming winter weather, are mostly tinted like' the northern snows and yellow northern lights. It is in the depths of the ooean that we find some of the largest specimens of plants in the polar zone. Here, within a s"hort distance of shore, are colossal kelps and other life that grow throughout the year ; of course, vegetating the most in the short summer months. Land plants, as already said, are pigmies compared with those of the sea, or even the corresponding class in lower latitudes, and this dwarfed condition, a naturalist tells us, is not due so much to the intense cold in the Arctic winter as to the fact that they do not get enough warmth in summer to develop them perfectly. Dr Joseph Hooker mentions it as a rare property of one of thegraminese (the grasses), Trisetum subspicatum, that it- is the only polar species known which is equally an inhabitant of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. ■

■ Shortsightedness op Catbrpillabs.— Mr Felix Plateau, in a communication to the Royal Academy of Belgium, declares that ,a caterpillar cannot see more than a centimetre ahead ; that is to say, less than two-fifths of an inch. The hairs on the body are said to be of as much use as its eyes in letting it know what is going on around.

A Gigantic Toad.— lt is affirmed by the Temps that a monster toad, weighing 2qr 101b, and ' measuring nearly 3ft round the body, has been discovered at Juillac, in the department of the Correze, and sold for £70 to a manufacturer of St. Etienne. Its croaking bears a close resemblance to the barking of a dog. The inhabitants of all the country round have been pouring into Juillac to sde this phenomenal creature. Yanitt oi^ CANAJ&y.— The habit of the canary to noisily join 'in any conversation that may be gbing.pn in the family circle is a reason' why many refrain from keeping this cheerful bird as a pet. A naturalist has discovered away of 'remedying the difficulty, lie says: — "We put in- our canary bird's cage every day a littlle mirror as' large as the the palib. of our hand, taking care that neither sun nor light shall dazzle him, and he will look at'hihiself'for hourfc together with as much happiness ' a!s any jfourief gentleman you ever saw. When we warithim, to Stop singing we have only to give him the mirror." A Giant Gqbii,l,a.— .Boston has just reoeived from Afrioa the largest gorilla ever landed in this country. His name is Jack, and he 1b sft in height when standing erect, and measures 7ft from the tip of one outstretched hand to the other. He arrived in a' large box made of planking 2£in thick, and when being removed from the ship he tore large splinters from the hardwood planks with as much ease as a child would break a twig. The hair, which is very coarse, and from 2in to 4in in length, is of a greenish-grey colour, and on the back, legs, ' and arms inclines to a black. His shoulders are immense. The expression of his face, which is black, is scowling. The eyes are small, sunken in the head, and the lips 1 are large and 'thin. — Boston Courier.

The Weather Eye.— Qne feat sometimes ascribed to man is in the case of birds a literal fact — they can sleep with one eye open: Thiff curious habit *I have Watched closely, says & writer in the. "Atlantic," and I find it common in nearly all Hhe varieties I have ! been 11 Able to observe. One » eye will close sleepily, shut tight,' and appear to enjoy a good nap, while the other is wide awake 1 as ever. It is not 'always the eye 1 toward 'the light that sleeps, nor is it" invariably the one from the light. The presence or absence of people makes no difference. I have even had a -bird startcl*on'my arm or knee, draw up one ieg, and seem to sleep soundly with one eye, while the other ,was wide open. In/ several years' close attention I. have been 'unable to find any cause either'iri the position or the surroundings for this strarige habit. ' '

Musical ,' Okies.— Mr Henderson, an American " gunner," has' managed to set the dries some 'of t|ieganie birds in musical notation, and 'finds that they are' quife as uniform as are the same words 'spoken by different persons. They have their songs of lovq. as' well as exclainatioris bf fear "arid detfarice. The quail has 1 one" set of notes' When it is '.'a proud, happy, and affectiona'a father," 'and another when in autumn he il . sounding the " assembly" in ofder to tell the scattered birds of the chosen rendezvous for the Goyey, Every other bird has, in like manner, language suitable for different occasions ang for special needs, and the clever sportsman can often easily ..wile the, birds' within ranged * :*. '...*,...!.„